Water finds a crack
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I think it's better long term for staff/runners to determine what sort of environment they enjoy moderating, and then let players sort themselves out as to who wants to play in that environment, rather than trying to think a system and rules is going to somehow make everyone comfortable with progression. It's just not going to happen. IMO.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a person who wants big dice and optimized chance at one shotting whatever obstacle comes in their way. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a person who neglects spending points at all because it crosses their mind so infrequently, or who like to build a sheet not with a specific roll in mind but to reflect what they've been doing in RP, even if they'll never use most of those skills. IMO neither is better, and I've met plenty of amazing AND horrific RPers that fit into either category and everywhere inbetween.
If you want a game with big dice, then you're going to have to deal with the older players complaining about expanded XP awards to bring incoming people up to speed. If you want slow progression then you may still have to do that if you keep adding people to the game; or you may need to put level caps on periodically until most people catch up. If you want diceless, then you're going to have to deal with the fact that some people will determine that people will always be out to get them and never let them do anything because icky poo consent. And you're going to have to deal with abusers of that system who are the reasons for some people feeling that way!
How you handle player disappointment (both of your older players who feel threatened or resentful of encroachers, as well as newer folks integrating into an established game) is a really crucial thing that I don't think has enough time spent on it usually. You will make some people happy by throwing points at them to "progress", especially if they really enjoy sheet building and numbers, but I don't think that really solves issues of resentment/feeling of investment in the game itself.
